Daytona 500: Earnhardt, Johnson win Duels ahead of NASCAR opener

Last year's 500 winner Earnhardt had to start from the back of the pack in the first Duel after being excluded from qualifying for a ride-height infringement related to the front-left corner of the car.

But from 25th place, he claimed victory ahead of Hendrick Motorsports team-mate Jeff Gordon, who had already secured pole position by setting the pace in qualifying on Sunday, by 0.165s.

Earnhardt made the decisive move for the race shortly before the final caution period, passing Matt Kenseth for first place a few laps before 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne spun into the wall, clipping Kyle Larson after losing the car.

He held the lead at the restart, with Gordon coming through to second ahead of Joey Logano, while Kenseth dropped to 17th.

Earnhardt will start third in Sunday's race thanks to his victory.

In the second Duel Johnson (pictured above), who had already reserved a place on the front row alongside Gordon, dominated and beat Kyle Busch by 0.125s.

The most controversial incident of the two races happened in the closing stages of this Duel, with Denny Hamlin getting too close to the rear of Danica Patrick's car, leading her to spin and triggering an accident that also involved Bobby Labonte and Brian Scott.

Patrick, who recovered to finish 10th, confronted Hamlin after the race after what was their second clash at Daytona following a similar incident in practice.

Scott failed to make the field as a result of the incident (right), but the heavily-damaged Labonte was able to use the past champion's provisional to take the final spot in the field.

Five other drivers failed to make the race, with Ron Hornaday Jr and Justin Marks eliminated in the first Duel, and Jeb Burton, Josh Wise and and Alex Bowman falling in the second, along with Scott.

Like Scott, Burton and Bowman both got caught up in crashes, while Hornaday and Marks could not finish high enough to make the race.

Wise had the most painful exit, only briefly joining his Duel 12 laps down after suffering a fuel pick-up problem before stopping for good.